Contemporary Religions in Canada Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality: Some Typical Components

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality “I’ve never yet met an Indian atheist”—David Bird To understand Aboriginal spirituality, you have to come to terms with a particular history Small scale, frequently nomadic hunter-gatherer societies, surviving in harsh climates Suddenly, their traditional way of life turned upside down by a number of intrusions –European takeover of traditional lands, resulting ultimately in being confined (and in many places ultimately crowded into) to “Indian reserves” –Outlawing and banning of most traditional religious practices –Radical attempts at assimilation through the church-school system –All of this leading to widespread socio-cultural “meltdown” of traditional structures—traditional socio-religious values are not lost, but social structures in which they once existed are shaken to the core

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality What has emerged in the post-residential school aboriginal community in terms of religion/spirituality? –Religious Diversity Adherence to forms of Christianity (Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Pentecostal, etc.) Return to forms of Traditional Aboriginal Religious practices (both pan-Indian and localized “reconstitution” of ancestral religions) A mix of the two, adopted and practiced at varying levels of devotion

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality Religious Dynamics at play in contemporary Aboriginal spirituality –Aboriginal Christianity has adopted to varying levels aspects of traditional Aboriginal practices E.g., Since 1984 Catholic church allows Aboriginal ceremonies like “smudging” to be a part of mass E.g., Anglican band council in a reserve in Saskatchewan would not allow an Aboriginal healing circle to be established on their reserve E.g., Some Aboriginal Pentecostal churches regard “going Native” as akin to a return to “devil worship”; others are re- integrating Aboriginal aspects to their worship (e.g., Inuit); typically the integration of any Traditionalist component into these churches will involve conflict

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality Religious Dynamics at play in contemporary Aboriginal spirituality –Their has also been an attempt to revive the religion of the ancestors in what is frequently labeled “Traditionalism” This is an attempt to re-construct ancient rituals and practices of one’s tribal ancestors This has run on two tracks –Pan-Indian Spirituality—a free exchange of ideas and rituals between disparate North American Aboriginal nations, e.g., Black Elk’s works a sort of “Bible”; pow-wows, medicine wheel –Local tribal revivals—an attempt to rediscover localized rituals and practices

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality Religious Dynamics at play in contemporary Aboriginal spirituality –It remains the case that most native peoples in Canada will still self identify themselves as “Christian” (much more so than the population at large) –In practice, in terms of religiosity, expect some mix of Traditional and Christian

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality Items of interest for understanding Aboriginal Spirituality medicine wheel tobacco smudging pow-wow ancestors and funeral feasts pipe-carriers/medicine man

Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality